Austin Community College (ACC) students are collaborating with industry professionals and the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Austin in a series of performances at the Texas Performing Arts’ McCullough Theatre .

ACC dance students and alumni join the Chicago-based dance company The Seldoms and UT dance students for performances of “Power Goes” on Wednesday, September 16, and Friday, September 18, at 8 p.m. in the McCullough Theatre. The project is directed and choreographed by Carrie Hanson.

“This is a groundbreaking opportunity for our students,” says Darla Johnson, ACC dance instructor. “They’re forced out of their comfort zone; collaborating with a nationally recognized choreographer. It gives them a new sense of confidence, and you see it on stage.”

The multimedia dance-theater production examines President Lyndon B. Johnson’s mastery of political power and features a 10-minute segment involving 15 local dancers including five ACC students.

“We reincarnate the history of LBJ’s accomplishments and challenges on stage,” says Anne Wharton, ACC alumna and participant in “Power Goes.” “We represent the marchers that became iconic to the Civil Rights Movement and the protestors protecting each other during the anti-war movement of the Vietnam War.”

“It’s an incredible experience being on stage alongside the choreographer and her company. Each position, movement, and gesture has purpose,” says Joel Davila, ACC dance student.” “All of us as dancers form a sort of synchronicity together.”

The dance performances follow “SongwritingWith:Soldiers,” a concert at Texas Performing Arts earlier this month featuring newly written, never-performed songs by ACC student veterans and professional songwriters. Read more about SongwritingWith:Soldiers at songwritingwithsoldiers.org.

For more information about “Power Goes,” visit theseldoms.org. Discount tickets are available for ACC students at the box office. Tickets also may be purchased online at texasperformingarts.org/season/seldoms-power-goes-mccullough-theatre-2015.

Tags: dance, McCullough Theatre, SongwritingWith:Soliders, Texas Performing Arts, The Seldoms, theater